Broom



Jill 28, 1925.} 1,547,188

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:l I H a 10. F ii L i 4% ii HM \WMW Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BROOM.

Application filed October 4, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN G. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Broom, of which the following is a specification.

In my prior application Serial No. 544,139, filed March 16, 1922, I have described and claimed a novel construction of a broom tension device.

My present invention is similar in some ways in principle to that in my above mentioned application and comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a broom tension device and novel means for adjusting it.

It further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of side arms, tension straps, guide members, novel means for looking and unlocking the tension straps in their adjusted position and novel mechanism for adjusting the tension of said tension straps, whereby the broom straws can be rendered soft when sweeping in either direction or hard when sweeping in either direction or soft when sweeping in one direction and hard when sweeping in an opposite direction.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment thereof which is at present preferred by me, since this embodiment will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can'be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a broom in conjunction with which a broom tension device, embodying my invention, is employed.

Figure 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Serial No. 666,443.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 33 of Figure 2. r V

Figure 4 represents a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 represents, in side elevation, a spring support seen in Figure 2.

Figure 6 represents, in perspective and in detached position, a carrier employed. I Figure 7 represents, in perspective, the 1loower portion of a side arm and guide mem- Figure 8 represents, in perspective, a tension strap and a spring coupling employed.

Figure 9 represents, in perspective, a coupling sleeve, I

Figure 10 represents, in perspective, a locking key,

Figure 11 represents a top plan view of a cap or frame employed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings. I

1 designates a broom handle which is preferably recessed at its inner end, as at 2. The handle 1 has-connected with it by means of a fastening device 3 a coupling sleeve 4 having at its lower end an outwardly ex- 1 tending annular flange 5. The coupling sleeve 4 is provided with a longitudinally extending and vertically disposed slot 6. This slot is formed by cuttingthrough the sleeve and bending inwardly the opposite edges to form reinforcing flanges, see Figures 2 and 3.

The slot 6, at its lower end, is enlarged, as at 7 and intermediate its ends one wall of the slot is provided with the recesses8.

The opposite sides of the coupling sleeve 4 each has a slot or opening 9 and above each slot a portion of the material of the coupling sleeve is deflected inwardly, as at 10,120 form a bearing for the tension straps 11. Below the slots 9, the coupling sleeve 4 is provided with opposite apertures 12 for a pin 65, see Figures 3 and 9. c r

13 designates a carrier, the construction of which will be best understood by refer- I ence to Figure 6 from which it will be seen.

that this carrier is formed of spring metal to provide a body portion 14 from which extends upwardly a spring flange 15 which with the body portion 14 is provided with aperture 20, as before explained, at its registering apertures 16. Extending upwa-rdly from the body portion 14 are the two guide arms 17. The body portion 14 is provided on opposite sides with the recesses 18 thereby forming the tongues 19 which are adapted to extend into and be secured in the apertures 20 at the upper ends of tension straps 11 which they carry, see Figures 3 and 8.

The body portion 14 and a portion of the spring flange 15 are cut out, as at 21, to lessen the tension on the spring 15. 22 designates a spring supporting flanged bar which is provided at its lower end with a keyway 23 and it also has the longitudinally extending slot 24 through which is adapted to pass a locking plunger 25, see Figure 2, which also passes through the apertures 16 and it is provided with an extension 26 which is positioned between the spring flange 15 and the coupling sleeve 4, as best seen in Figure 2. One end of the locking member passes through the slot 6 in the coupling sleeve 4 and at its opposite end it is provided with a pressure portion 27 which is adapted to be sprung into one of the apertures 28, 29 or 30 in the coupling sleeve 4, it being understood from Figure 1 that an upper and a lower set of such apertures 28, 29 and 30 are formed in the coupling sleeve 4.

The bar 22 is flanged on opposite sides and is set within the spring 34. The carrier 13 adjustably moves against the back of said bar, the bar 22 being held in place by the divided key 31 which passes through the keyway 23 and the opening 7 in the sleeve 4 in which it springs apart and locks when partially rotated, see Figures 2 and 4. The construction of the key 31 is best seen in Figure 10 from which it will be understood that it consists of a strip of spring material bent upon itself and provided at the edges with the oppositely disposed recesses 32 and the end in proximity to such recesses is rounded, as at 33, to facilitate its insertion into the keyway 23 of the spring suppor ing bar 22.

34 designates a spring one end of which is secured in the aperture 3.5 of the carrier 13,

see Figure 6, while its opposite end is seated on the irregularly shaped head 36 of the spring supporting bar 22. The tension of the spring 34 is such that it tends to draw upwardly the'carrier 13 and the tension straps 11 connected therewith but such movement is prevented by the engagement of the locking plunger 25 with one of the tension marked vapertures 28, 29 or 39-of the coupling sleeve 4, as will be hereinafter fully :set forth.

.Each tension strap at opposite edges of the the and consists of a spring strap having per end, and having its lower end deflected to embrace a fastening device 37 preferably formed of spring wire of rectangular forma tion, as shown, and having its free end deflected to form the hooks 38 which are adapted to pass through the slot 39 in a tension strap. Each tension strap has secured to it by means of soldering or spot welding the deflected base portions 40 of the plates or shoes 41, and in proximity to such plates opposite sides of the strap are cut away, as indicated at 42. 43 designates a plurality of straps which are connected to the sides of the fastening device 37 and adapted to overlap each other, each strap having a clip 44 and one of the straps on each side of the broom being provided with the undercut serrations 45. Each strap is provided with a circular apertured grasping handle 46 by which the straps are adjusted in either direction.

In order to prevent the wear of the tension straps on the broom material, 1 provide a guide member 47 in the form of a metal or other plate which is apertured to receive the sleeve 4 and the portion surrounding such apcrture rests on the flange 5 of the coupling sleeve 4 and is secured thereto in any desired manner, for example, by soldering or spot welding.

The lower ends of the guide member 47 are provided with the laterally and upwardly deflected tongues 48, see Figure 7.

49 designates side arms which curve clownwardly and these side arms have their sides deflected inwardly to form the side flanges 50 to which are riveted or otherwise secured the sides or plates 51. The flanges of the side arms 49 at their lower end are wider and are deflected laterally from the flanges 50, as at 52, and one of said flanges 52 has its inner edge vertical, as at 53, see Figure 7, while the opposite side has the cut out portion 54 of angle formation which merges into a straight wall 55. The side arms 49 are in one continued piece or connected together at their upper portion anl provided with the openings 56, see Figure 3, through which the tension straps 11 pass. The side arms are integral with their central portion which is apertured, as at 57, to receive the coupling sleeve 4. 58 designates a cap or frame which is apertured at its top, as at 59, see Figure 11, and one side is provided with a removable panel 60 which is secured in position by means of a screw 61 which is adapted to pass through the coupling sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 is cut out, as at 62, see Figure 9, to facilitate the connecting of the tension straps to their carrier. This screw 61 is adapted to screw through the wall of the coupling sleeve and nut 61 and compress the slotted stub 63 a 'ainst th pin The stub 63 is slotted, as at 64, to receive the pin 65 which also extends through the apertures 12 in the coupling sleeve 4 in which it is permanently secured. 1

The handle 1 is provided with a forward slotted extension 66 which is secured to the coupling sleeve 4 by means of fastening devices 67, see Figure 4. It will be understood from Figure 4 that-this forward extension 66 is formed by cutting away longitudinally substantially one-half of the broom handle, and this forward extension is hollowed out and extends through the sleeve 4 to the line 68, see Figure 2.

The manner of assembling the broom is as follows:

The pin 65, see Figures 2, 3 and 9, is permanently connected with the coupling sleeve 4. The broom proper which carries the broom material is fixed to the stub handle 68 to form a unit of structure therewith and this stub handle is now inserted into the coupling sleeve 4. This stub handle is slotted at its upper portion and is cut away on its opposite sides tapering towards its top to permit of the passing of the tension straps, see Figures 3 and 1. The stub handle is inserted into the position seen in Figure 2 and the set screw 61 is then tightened to compress together the stub sections so that the stub handle 68 is firmly fixed within the coupling sleeve 4 and the sections of the ,stub are firmly tightened against the pin so that there is no lost motion between the stub and coupling sleeve when sweeping. The coupling sleeve 4 is secured to the broom handle 1 by means of the fastening device 3, see Figure 1, and the fastening devices 67, see Figures 2 and 4. WVithin the coupling sleeve is placed the spring 34 and supporting bar 22 which carries the spring The key 81 is inserted through the opening 7 in the sleeve 4 and through the opening 23 in the bar 22 which is of irregular formation so that when .the key 81 is partially rotated into the position seen in Figure 2, the bar 22 willbe connected with the coupling sleeve 4.

It will be seen that the key 31 is similar in formation to a spring cotter keyso that by pressing together its sides and disengaging the plunger 25 which will cause the spring 34 to close it can be moved from the opening 7 upwardly to engage and interlock with the walls of one of the recesses 8 so that the position of the bar 22 and spring 34 can be vertically adjusted, as may be desired, and the spring 34 set higher up in the sleeve 4 to be stretched out again by drawing the plunger downwardly until it springs into one of the holes 28, 29 or 30 in the sleeve 4, see Figures 1 and 2.

The carrier 13 has connected to it one end of the spring 34, the opposite end of which is dome-shaped and is seated on the upper end of the bar 22 which is of irregular formation at its upper end, as at 36, in

nected the straps 43.

for the upper end of spring 34 will seat in the lower opening 28.

The lower opening 28 in the coupling sleeve 4 is large enough to permit the stop portion 26 to pass through it so that the locking plunger 25 can be inserted through the; opening 28 in the coupling sleeve and its rear end will extend through the slot 24 of the bar 22 and the slot in the handle and the slot 6 in the coupling sleeve, as will be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 4.

The upwardly deflected flange 15, Figure 6, forms a spring to press the end 2? of the plunger into the tension marked openings 28, 29 or 30 in the sleeve 4, the projectron 26 acting as a stop which strikes against the inner wall of the sleeve 4 to prevent the plunger from passing through. The forward end of the plunger2? forms a presser member so that when the locking plunger 25 is pressed inwardly by the operator to clear the wall of the opening 28, the spring 34 will draw it upwardly, and as soon as the locking plunger 25 comes into register with the next superimposed opening 29 in the coupling sleeve 4, it will enter such opening by the force of the spring flange 15 of the carrier 13, see Figures 2 and 6, and will be accessible to the operator for further adjustment.

As before explained, the guide members 47, Figure 3, are fixed to the flange 5 of the coupling sleeve 4 and the tension straps 11 pass between the guide member 47 and the under wall of the side arms 49. These tension straps bear against the shoulders at the upper end portions of the side arms, and also against the inwardly deflected portions 10 of the coupling sleeve 4, see Figure 3, and at their upper ends they are-connected to the tongues 19 of the carrier 13. In order to aid in assembling, the coupling sleeve 4 is cut out, as indicated at 62, in Figure 9, and the removable panel 60 in Figure 1 is provided so'that the tension straps and other parts can be connected as before ex- 'plained.

The lower ends of the tension strap 11 carry the spring clips'37 to which are con- It will be apparent from Figures 3 and 8 that the upper portions of the clips 37 are offset from their tension strap 11 so that the tendency of the spring clips 37 when the inner ends of the straps 43 are not connected together is to cause them to lie in an upwardly inclined direction, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. This upward tendency holds the clips 4-4 in place when the straps are drawn down and set together. The grasping handies 46 are now drawn downwardly and toward each other to bring the straps together to overlap on a straight line and the clips ie-f of one strap on opposite sides of the broom interlock with the ser 'ation 15 of the strap which it overlaps, so that the straps are under tension upwardly and around the broom material.

The guide member 17 is inwardly depressed at 417* at its lower portion to fit into the space between the flanges 52, see Figures 7 and 3, which shows the underside, so that such depressed portion co-operates with the shoes 11 on the. tension strap 11.

Assuming now that it is desired to sweep with the broom and that the parts are in the position seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the shoe 4-1 on the tension straps 11 is below the end of the side arms 4:9 and the tension straps 11 are free to oscillate and are prevented from knocking by the projecting spring ends 68* of the side flanges 50 of the side arms 49, see Figure 7, and in this position the broom straws will be free to flex and the sweeping portion of the broom will be soft and flexible on both sides of the broom. If now the operator presses inwardly the locking plunger 25, the spring at will cause it and the carrier 13 and tension straps 11 to move upwardly and the locking plunger will be locked in the next superimposed aperture 29 marked hard in Figure 1. The upward movement of the carrier 18 has drawn upwardly the tension straps 11 so that the plates or shoes ll will be positioned between the walls 55 and 53, see Figure 7, so that no lateral relative movement between the tension straps and the side arm is permitted. Both sides of the broom material will thus be hard to bend irrespective of the direction in which the sweeping action takes place. The cut out portions 42, see Figure 8, permit a greater range of movement when the locking plunger 25 is in the opening 28 and both sides of the broom are soft.

If the operator desires to have one side of the broom stiffer and less flexible than the other or, in other words, one side hard and the other soft, he presses inwardly the looking plunger 25 so as to permit the spring 3a to draw the carrier upwardly and the look ing plunger is received in the aperture 30 of the handle sleeve 4.

This upward movement of the carrier draws the shoes ll of the tension strap 11 into such position that they are located between the straight side wall 53 and the an gularly recessed side wall 5st so that the oscillating movement of the tension straps 11 is permitted in one direction and is limited in the opposite direction. This causes the broom material to be soft when the sweep ing action takes place in one direction and to be hard when the sweeping action takes place in the opposite direction.

In other words, it is hard when the sweep ing action is towards the wall 53 and it is soft when the sweeping action is towards the recess 54,

It will be noticed that I have provided for each tension strap 11 an upper and a lower shoe ll and the coupling sleeve 1 is provided with superimposed apertures which are marked soft, hard and hard and soft. If the broom material should be partly used up the key 31 is raised to the next recess in the sleeve t marked 8, this carries the bar 22, spring 3%, carrier 13, and tension straps 11 higher up in the sleeve 4; then the lower shoes a1 are used instead of the upper shoes a1 and as the action is similar to that already described, a detailed description is believed to be unnecessary.

The upper head of the broom material on opposite sides is preferably made with straight lines, as indicated at 69. Figure 3, in order to conform more to the shape of the guide members, and also to prevent the broom material distorting said guide members 47. These guide members prevent the contact and wear of the tension straps and shoes on the broom material.

The side plates 51 are made separate for convenience of manufacture.

It will be understood from Figure 7 that the guide members at at their lower ends are inwardly depressed to conform to the contour of the sides of the opening formed between the flanges 52, in order to co-opcrate with the shoes 41.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful broom tension device which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described an embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a broom, the combination with the broom material, of adjustable tension straps at the opposite edges of the broom head, fastening devices carried by said tension straps and having upper offset portions projecting outwardly from the tension straps, bridle straps connected with said fastening devices at opposite edges of the broom to provide a pair of overlapping straps on each side, each overlapping strap having a clip to engage the other overlapping strap and one of the overlapping straps at each side of the broom having serrations on its under face with which the clip of its overlapping strap is adapted to interlock, and means to effect the vertical adjustment of said tension straps 2. In a broom, the combination with the broom material, or" tension straps disposed at the edges of the broom, a rectangular shaped fastening device secured to the lower end of each tension strap and having free ends adapted to lie detachably connected with such strap to prm-ideupper oll set portions, a pair of overlapping straps at each side oi" the broom connected with the opposite end portions said fastening de vices and provided with apertured handles, each overl pping strap having a clip to engage a jinitziposcd strap and one of said overlapping straps on each side of the broom having serrations to receive the clip of its overlapping strap, and means to adjust said tension straps longitudi rally of the ln'oom.

3. In a broom, a handle, a coupling sleeve connected therewith, a broom head having a stub handle to be received in said coupling sleeve, means to fasten said coupling sleeve to saidv stub handle, guide members connect-ed with said coupling sleeve and overlying opposite edge portions oi the head of the broom, side ms spaced from said guide members, tension straps slidable between said guide mei'nrer and side arms, an. oblong band surrounding the broom material and c-"ine-cted with said tension straps, shoes on said tension stra s aid guide member having a portion depre :ed to form a continuous recess having portions of dilierentwidths, said recess being adapted to receive said shoes and thereby deter mine the lateral movement of said tension straps and the sweeping material 01 the broom, and means to effect the raising lowering of said tension straps.

4. In a broom, a handle, a coupling sleeve connected therewith, a broom head having a stub handle to be received in said coupling sleeve, means to fasten said coupling sleeve to said stub handle, guide members oonnected with said coupling sleeve and overlying opposite edge portions of the head of the broom, side arms spaced from said guide member, tension straps slidable between said guide member and side arms, an oblong band surrounding the broom material and connected with said tension straps, shoes on said tension straps, said guide member having a portion depressed to form a continuous recess having portions of different widths, said recess being adapted to receive said shoes and therebv determine the lateral movement of said tension straps and sweeping material, a carrier slidable in said cot-,- pling sleeve and connected with said tension straps, a tension device for said carrier to effect its upward movement, and a manually actuated releasing member connected with said carrier and adapted to interlock with said sleeve. v

5. In a broom, the combination with the handle and the broom head, of a coupling sleeve, connecting said handle and broom head, a tension band surrounding the broom material, tension stiaps connected with said tensionband, a carrier slidable within said sleeve and to which said tension straps are connected, a tension device for said carrier to client its upward movement, a manually actuated releasing member co-operating with said carrier and sleeve to retain'said carrier in its adjusted position, a shoe on each ten sion strap, and means in the path of said shoes to prevent their lateral movement in both directions during the sweeping action or to permit the lateraln'iovement of said shoes in one direction during the sweeping action and to prevent their movement in an opposite direction when sweeping.

6. In a broom, a handle and a broom head, acoupling sleeve connecting them, a tension band surrounding the broom material, tension straps operatively connected with said tension band, a bar adapted to be adjustably positioned within said sleeve, a carrier slidable on said bar, a spring con nected with said bar and carrier to effect the upward movement 01' the latter, said tension straps being connectedto said carrier, said coupling sleeve having a slot and providedwith spaced apertures, a releasing member to pass through 'said slotfand' carrier and having one end adapted to seat in adesired aperture, said carrier having means co-operating with said releasing member to effect such seating action, shoes on said tension straps, and means in the path of said shoes to prevent their lateral movement in eiher direction during the sweeping action and to permit the lateral movement in one direction of said shoes du ing the sweeping action and to prevent their lateral movement in an opposite direction.

7. In a broom, a handle and a broom head, a slotted coupling sleeve connecting said handle and broom head and having notches in a wallet the slot and sets of spaced apertures, an adjustable tension band surrounding the broom material, tension straps operatively connected with said band, shoes on said tension straps, a carrier slidable in said sleeve and connected with said tension straps, a bar having a keyway, a divided spring key adapted to interlock with said notches in said slot and the walls of said lrevway to hold said bar in its adjusted position, a releasing member guided in said'slot passing through said carrier and adapted to be moved by the latter into one of the apertures of a set, a spring tens on device connected with said bar and carrier to move the latter upwardly, a plurality of shoes on each tension strap, and means to co-operate with each shoe when brought into register therewith to prevent lateral movement of said shoes or to permit'lateral movement of said shoes in one direction and to prevent lateral movement in an opposite direction.

8. In a broom, a broom head, a handle having a portion of its forward end made hollow and a longitudinal portion cut away, a coupling sleeve connecting said handle and broom proper and provided with a longitudinally extending slot, spaced apertures and inwardly deflected bearing portions, a carrier slidable in said sleeve, a manually actuated releasing member guided in said slot passing through said carrier and moved by it into one of said apertures, a tension device to effect upward movement of said carrier, tension straps connected with said carrier and engagingsaid inwardly defiected bearing portion of said sleeve, a tension band consisting of a plurality of overlapping straps surrounding the broom material and operatively connected with said tension straps, and means co-operating with said tension straps when the latter are adjusted to prevent their lateral movement in either direction or to permit it in one direction and prevent it in an opposite direction.

9. As a new article oi manufacture, a broom head comprising a stub handle to which the broom material is connected, the upper parts of said handle being slotted and having its opposite sides flat and tapering to its outer end, the head of the broom material being angularly formed at its opposite shoulders.

10. In a broom, a handle, a broom head, a sleeve to couple them together, guide members connected with said sleeve and extending downwardly along the upper edge portions or shoulders of the head of the broom, side arms seated on said guide member and spaced therefrom, a cap having a removable panel and seated on said side arms and sleeve, said sleeve having a cut out portion to register with said panel and having opposite side slots, tension straps between said guide member and side arms and adapted to pass through said slots, a tension band surrounding the broom material and operatively connected with said tension straps, shoes on the underside of said tension straps, said guide member having means co-operating with said shoes to limit their lateral moven'ient in either direction or to permit their lateral movement in one direction and prevent it in the opposite direction, a spring actuaied carrier slidable within said sleeve and connected with said tension straps, and a manually actuated releasing member for said carrier adapted to interlock with said sleeve to secure said tension straps and their shoes in their adjusted position.

STEPHEN G. \VILSON.

\Vitnesses E. HAYWARD Fawn inns, RUTH Hinnnnson. 

